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State fire marshal says more testing needed to confirm cause of gas explosion that killed two women

State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler updates reporters on the investigation of a camper explosion in Old Orchard Beach Saturday that claimed the lives of two women from Massachusetts.
Carol Bousquet
/
Maine Public
State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler updates reporters on the investigation of a camper explosion in Old Orchard Beach Saturday that claimed the lives of two women from Massachusetts.

The State Fire Marshal said more testing needs to be done to confirm the source of a propane leak that caused a camper to explode in Old Orchard Beach Saturday.

Two women from Massachusetts were severely burned and later died.

Alesia Ventura-Large, 58, of Marlborough and 57-year-old Nancy Pilsch of Leominster were able to tell first responders they had smelled a garlicky odor in the camper and lit a candle to address the smell. Officials say that triggered the explosion.

Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said there was a burner left on the stove in the camper but pressure testing on the propane system will rule out a failure.

"We will do that in conjunction with the Maine Fuel Board and the insurance company to rule out one or the other," Esler said.

Esler said anyone who uses propane or natural gas for a camper or an appliance in their home should have a gas detector and get out of any structure that has a strange smell and call 911.

Ventura-Large owned the camper at the Powder Horn Campground with a family member. It was parked there seasonally.